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Smoky Chipotle Pulled Pork Sliders

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These sliders feature tender pulled pork with smoky chipotle heat paired with crisp, creamy coleslaw on soft slider buns, perfect for parties or casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 to 4 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (add more for extra heat)
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the chipotle peppers can)
  • 1/2 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (Duke’s or Hellmann’s preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 12 slider buns (soft, slightly sweet)
  • Optional: Pickles or sliced jalapeños for extra tang and kick

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry the pork shoulder. Trim any large chunks of fat, leaving some for flavor and moisture.
  2. In a small bowl, combine minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this mixture all over the pork shoulder and let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork shoulder on all sides until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side.
  4. Transfer pork to a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Pour orange juice and apple cider vinegar around the meat, avoiding the rub. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours until fork-tender.
  5. While pork cooks, mix shredded cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Toss dressing with veggies and add cilantro if using. Chill until serving.
  6. Remove pork from cooker and let cool slightly. Shred the meat with two forks or meat claws, discarding excess fat. Toss shredded pork with cooking juices.
  7. Toast slider buns if desired. Assemble sliders by piling pulled pork on bottom buns, topping with coleslaw, and finishing with top buns. Add pickles or jalapeños if desired.

Notes

Searing the pork before slow cooking adds a deep smoky crust and flavor. Use orange juice during cooking to keep pork moist and add subtle sweetness. Keep coleslaw chilled and separate from pork until serving to avoid sogginess. For gluten-free, swap slider buns for gluten-free rolls or lettuce wraps. Mayo can be swapped for Greek yogurt for a lighter coleslaw.

Nutrition

Keywords: pulled pork sliders, chipotle pulled pork, party sliders, smoky pulled pork, coleslaw sliders, easy pulled pork recipe, game day food

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/smoky-chipotle-pulled-pork-sliders-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-perfect-party-bites/